Electrolytic cell



Nov. 22, 1932. J. E.' .n-:wET'r I 1,888,677

' ELEcTRoLYTIc CELL Filed Jn. 31 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 kr JZ? 770 N93/ Patented Nov. ,1932

UNITED STATES Joanna. :rE-Wm; or annum, NEW Yonx, AssIGNoR To NATIONAL ANILTNE AND cmnrIcAL coxrANY, rNc., or NEW You, N. Y., A coaronA'rroN or NEW Yonx ELEcrnoLmc cnLTi Application med :mui-'y s1, 1980. serial Nq. 424,916.

The present invention' relates to improvements in an electrolytic'cell for carrying out electrolyic reactions, and is particularly.

adapted for carrying out the electrolytic reduction of nitro, azoxy or azo bodies.

In the manufacture of hydrazobenzene by the electrolytic reduction of the corresponding nitro, azoxy or azo bodies, the reduction products are precipitated as solids Which stick to the diaphragms and walls of the cell and decrease'the efliciency of the apparatus. Frequently, the solids are deposited as a hard mass which lis diilicult to remove.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an electrolyticcell wherein the spce between the electrode plates and diap agm is kept free from incrustation. `A further object of the invention is the design of an electrolytic cell wherein the cathode liquor is kept in circulation to prevent the deposition of solids on the walls of the cell.

Still another object is the provision of an -electrolytic cell wherein the cathode liquor;

is circulated between the cathode plate and rdiaphragm to keep the cathode plate and diaphragm free from incrustation. Another Objectis the design of an electrolytic cell which is compact, and is convenient to assemble and disassemble, an'd which is inexpensive t`o manufacture, occupies but little oor space and has a high output per unit of indicates an electrolytic cell mounted on a suitable support 1 and insulated from electrical `contact therewith by the insulatlon plates 2 interposed between the cell and the supports. The cell is made up of two rectangular open-sided open. ended frames, A,

and B, flanged lat their open ends as indicated by the numeralsB-and 3 and bolted together end to end by the bolts 4 passing throu h the flanges 3 and 3. The sections A" an B are also flanged at 5, 5 and 6, 6 at their sides and have holes 7 bored through the flanges. The diaphragms 8 are held clamped betwen the flanges 5, 5 and 6, 6 of the frames A and B, and the flanges 9, 9 and 10, 10', respectively, of the open-sided anode compartment casing 11, 11 and 12, 12 by the bolts 13 and stud bolts 13 which pass through the holes7 and holes 14 in the flanges 9, 9 and 10, 10 inalinement therewith. The bolts 13 and studs 13, are insulated from electrical contact with the anode compartments by insulation sleeves 15 which are fitted in the holes 14 in flanges 9, 9 and Insulation washers 16 insulate the bolt heads and stud heads from electrical contact with the anode compartments.

The anodes consist 'of metal plates 17 held in the anode ychambers spaced from but'V parallel to the diaphragms 8 and are supported by the internal projecting shoulders i flanges 5, 5 and 6, 6 and are insulated from electrical contacttherewith by the insulation plates 21 interposed therebetween. The

anodes are perforated at 22 to permit the passage of anode liquor therethrough. Reenforcing webs 23, which are perforated to permit passage of anode liquor therethrough support the anodes against lateral pressure.

,Studs 24 pass through the anodes at spaced intervals and contact with the'diaphragms 8 to serve as an auxiliary support therefor. Anode liquor is introduced into the anode compartment through the passages 25 at the bottom, joined to the main supply pipe 27, and may be withdrawn at the same opening. Pipes 26 and 26 interconnect the anode chambers at the same side. Vents 28` are provided to permit the escape of gases .therethrough from fthe anode compartments.

Vented reflux condensers (not shown) may be provided connected to the vents 28 bythe rubber connections 29, if desired, to return Volatile material to the anodecompartment.

l46 of the cathode.

Within the frames A and B on both sides are the imperforate cathode plates 30 which extend laterally the full width of the frames, and are bolted to the bracing ribs 32 by the bolts 31 to support the same. The cathode plates extend' vertically to the points 33 and' 34 spaced from the top and 'bottom respectively o the cathode compartments 35. A partition 36 passing horizontally between the cathode plates and bolted thereto partially divides the space between the cathode plates into anupper compartment 37 and a lower compartment 38. A circulating passage 39 is provided at the bottom at one end of the section B, .which communicates with the lower'compartment 38. A similar circulating passage 40'communicates withv the upper-compartment 37 at its bottom. The circulating passages 39 and 40 are anged at their outer ends, and a pump assembly 41 of conventional construction havin a flanged pump discharge passage' 42 an pump supply passage 43is secured to, the cell by 'the bolts 44 passing through the flanges on the pump land on the circulating passages 39 and 40. The positive terminal from a source of direct current is connected to the interconnected terminals 45 welded to the anode and. the negative terminal from the same source is connected to the terminals The cathode terminals are calked in the tops of the frames A and B and are welded to the cathodesa` In opera-tion, the anodecompartment is filled with anode liquor through the supply passage 25 and pipe 27 which is connected t0 a suitable source of supply. The anode liquor fills the anode compartment and the space between the anode and diaphragm to the level of the top of the cathode plates. Cathode liquor is likewise introduced into the cathode compartments of frames A and B and ills the same tothe level of the top of the cathode plates. The liquor in the cathode compartment is maintained at about tolOO" C. by

l suitable heating means (not shown). The

electric current enters the cell at the anode, flows through the anode liquor, through the diaphragm 8, through the cathode liquor, and

' leaves the cell at the cathode. The pump 41 circulates the liquor through the lower compartment 38,. around the lower ends 34 of the cathodes, upward between the cathodes and the diaphragms, and over the upper ends 33 of the cathode plates into the upper compartment 37, from which the liquor is withdrawn through the circulating passage 40 to the pump to be recirculated. The continuous passage of liquor through the space between theA cathode and diaphragm prevents the formation of incrustations in this s ace.

When the reaction complete, the cat ode liquor may be removed through the drain 47, whchalso serves asa supply passage 4for i filling the cathode chamber.

a flanged recaer? l; An electrolytlc cell comprising a cathode casing open at its sides, cathode plates extending laterally thewidth or the casing and terminating short of the top and bottom walls of the casing, a web completely dividing the space between the cathode plates into separate cathode compartments, diaphragms held spaced from the cathode plates and completely closing the sides of the casing, anode compartments clamped to the sides of the cathode casing, and anode plates extending parallel to and spaceddroni the diaphragms in the anode compartments.

2. An electrolytic cell comprising an opensided cathode casing anged at its sides, a pair of iianged anode casings clamped to the cathode casing and 'separated therefrom bydiaphragms, forming cathode and anode chambers, respectively, cathode and anode plates in the cathode and anode chambers respectively, extending parallel to and spaced from the diaphragms, spaced studs projecting from the anodes to provide auxiliary support for the diaphragms, terminal contact members secured to the anode casing in electrical contact therewith, and terminal contact mem# bers secured to the cathode plates.

3. An electrolytic cell comprising a pair of open-sided frames secured'end to end, anode casings clamped to the open sides of said frames, and separated therefrom by diaphragms, flanges projecting from the frames Y to support the anode casings, anode plates, internal ribs in said anode casings which support the anode plates, and .cathode plates 'on the side of the diaphragms opposite the the open sides of said casing, diaphragmspositioned and held between said anode caslngs and the cathode casing, perforated anode plates positioned on one side of said diaphragms spaced therefrom and parallel thereto, and cathode plates extending`laterally the width of the'casing and terminat-` ingy Within a short distance of the top and bottom walls of the casing positioned on the sides of said casing, a pair of electrodes of like polarity in said caslng spaced from said diaphragms, a web joining said electrodes and forming two compartments therebetween, and electrodes on the other sides of said diaphragms from, and of opposite polarity to, said pair of electrodes.

7. An electrolytic cell comprising diaphragms positioned and held between anode casings and a cathode` casing,.anode plates, cathode plates positioned in said cathode casing between said diaphragms, and a web completely dividing the 'space between 'the cathode plates into separate cathode compartments.

8. An electrolytic cell comprising an opensided cathode casing, anode casings secured to the open sides of said casing, diaphragms positioned and held between said anode casings and the cathode casing, perforated anode plates provided with perforated reinforcing webs positioned in said anode casings spaced from said diaphragms and parallel thereto, and cathode' plates extending laterally the width of the casing and terminating within a short distance of the top and bottom walls of the casing positioned on the other sides of the diaphragme from said anode plates. 1

9. An electrolytic cell comprising an open sided cathode casing, anode casings secured to Athe open sides of said casing, diaphragms positioned and held between said anode casings andthe cathode casing, anode plates positioned in said anode casings, cathode plates positioned in said cathode casing between Isaid diaphragms, a web completely dividing the space between the cathode plates into separate compartments, and means for circulating liquor from one to the other of said compartments.

10. 'An electrolytic cell comprising an open-sided cathode casing, anode casings secured to the open sides of said casing, diaphragms positioned and held between said anode casings and the cathode casing, anode plates positioned on the same sides of said diaphragms as said anode casings, cathode plates positioned on the other sides of the diaphragms in close proximity thereto forming narrow passages between the cathode plates and the diaphragms, and means for circulating .liquor through said passages.

11. An electrolytic cell comprising an open i sided casing, diaphragmslclosing the open posite polarity to, said pair of electrodes.

12. An electrolytic cell comprising an .open-sided cathode casing, anode casings secured-to the open sides of said casing, diaphragms positioned and held between said anode casings and the cathode casing, anode plates positioned on the same sides of said diaghragms as said anode casings, cathode plates positioned in the cathode casing in close proximity to said diaphragms forming narrow passages between the cathode plates and the diaphragme, a web completely dividing the space between the cathode plates into separate compartments, and means for circulating liquor from the one to the other of said compartments and through said narrow passage.

walls of the casing, a web completely divid-` ing the space between the cathode plates into separate compartments, diaphragms held spaced from the cathode plates and completely cl'osing the sides of the casing, anode compartments clamped to the sides of the cathode casing, anode plates extending parallel to and spaced from the diaphragme in the anode compartments, and means for circulating liquor from the one to the other of said cathode compartments. A

14. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode casing open at its sides, cathode plates extending laterally the width of the 4casing and terminating short of the top and bottomA walls of the casing, a web completely dividing the space between the'cathodc plates into said passages.

, JOSEPH E.

sides of said casing, aV pair of electrodes of like polarity in said casing spaced from said diaghragms and respectively forming passages between them and said diaphragms,'a web joining saidv electrodes and forming two compartments therebetween, means for circulating electrolyte from one compartment,

through said passages, and into said other compartment, and electrodes-on the other 13. An electrolytic cell comprising a cath- 

